Get smart and skilled in cyber-security

Deputy Premier and Skills Minister John Barilaro today announced that the growing threat of cybercrime and the potential shortage of skills to protect against it has led the NSW Government to offer subsidised training in cyber-security for the first time.

Mr Barilaro said cybercrime costs the nation up to $17 billion a year.

“This is more than just a skills shortage, it’s a matter of national security,” Mr Barilaro said.

“The cybersecurity sector is forecast to triple in both size and revenue - from $2 billion to $6 billion - over the next 10 years.”

“There’s a serious need for cyber security experts in the field, which is why the NSW Government has decided to subsidise the Certificate IV in Cyber Security for eligible students.

“With the growing threat of cybercrime impacting everyone - from individuals being scammed over email to global institutions being hacked - there’s an urgent need for people with the skills to protect our digital lives and businesses,” he said.

A report from Frost & Sullivan and ISC recently showed the global cybersecurity workforce will have more than 1.5 million unfilled positions by 2020.

Governments, the resources sector, telecommunications, energy, defence, banking and finance are the most vulnerable to cyber-attack, and people with the skills to protect these institutions and industries against attack are already in strong demand.

“Demand for cyber security services and related jobs is forecast to grow by at least 21 per cent over the next five years according to the Federal Government’s employment projections ,” Mr Barilaro said.

Mr Barilaro said that with the subsidy, eligible students could save up to 75 per cent on the full cost of the Certificate IV in Cyber Security, normally priced at $8,100.

The student’s first qualification the cost could be as little as $1,960, which represents a huge saving on the full cost of the Cert IV. It also presents people with a great opportunity to train for a career as a Cyber-security or IT security specialist, jobs which command $100k plus salaries.

“The Government’s decision to add this course to the NSW Skills List, through Smart and Skilled, is another example of how we’re supporting people through Vocational Education and Training (VET) to skill up for the jobs of the future,” he said.